By - Amit kumaR Agarwal
- “Being here at IFFI is a significant milestone. I am proud to represent Latin America and my region’s stories”: Ricardo Valenzuela Pinilla, Director
‘Left Unsaid’ (Lo Que No Se Dijo), a heartfelt Portuguese film by filmmaker Ricardo Valenzuela Pinilla, made its world premiere at the 55 International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Screened under the “Cinema of the World” section, the film delves into the complexities of interpersonal communication amidst the advent of mobile technology.
Speaking at the Press conference in IFFI, Director Ricardo Valenzuela Pinilla discussed his debut feature film.
Set in Southern Chile during 1994, ‘Left Unsaid’ tells the poignant story of Margarita, a single mother juggling her career as a mobile phone seller and the struggles of her strained relationships in her personal life.
The juxtaposition of her profession, offering mediums of connectivity and her own inability to connect with her mother forms the emotional core of the film.
“This story draws from my own life,” shared the Director. “The main character is inspired by my mother, who had the same job during the 1990s, traveling to rural areas to introduce people to mobile
technology. It was a challenging time when people resisted the idea of abandoning traditional ways of communication.”
‘Left Unsaid’ captures the 90’s essence with meticulous attention to details; the Director noted, “We didn’t have advanced technology to recreate the time period, but the art department did a
phenomenal job. There’s still not much difference between rural Chile then and now, which helped in building the authenticity.”
“We worked with a small crew and cast, many non-professional actors most of whom were locals,” said Pinilla. “It was a difficult but rewarding process. This is a small film with a big heart despite budget constraints.”
Pinilla, who is also the film’s writer and music composer, emphasized the underlying message of the film: the paradox of the idea of modern communication. “It’s ironic that we are more connected than ever through smartphones and social media, yet our interpersonal relationships have deteriorated” he said.